NY Thruway in Saugerties site of accident involving two tractor-trailers

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. -- The cause of the tractor-trailer accident that closed both southbound lanes of the Thruway for several hours Tuesday night was still under investigation Wednesday, but both drivers were not seriously injured, according to state police.

Thruway state police Lt. Eugene Demczar said the accident occurred when one tractor-trailer rear-ended the other around 9:30 p.m. in the southbound lanes between Exits 20 (Saugerties) and 19 (Kingston).

Demczar said the vehicle operated by James Millsaps, 49, of North Carolina, who was driving for Crown Leasing of Hickory, N.C., struck the rear end of a tractor-trailer operated by Anthony Rana, 48, of Florida. Rana was driving for Atlantic Truck Express out of Hallandale, Fla., Demczar said.

Demczar said the Rana vehicle, which was carrying calcium pellets, overturned when struck from behind.

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He said the Saugerties Fire Department and the Ulster County HazMat team responded to the scene and determined the load on Rana's truck was not hazardous.

"The pellets are considered an irritant, but not dangerous material," Demczar said.

"The trailer was intact and the cargo wasn't spilled on the roadway. There was some fuel spilled that was cleaned up," he said.

Demczar said Rana was airlifted to Albany Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Millsaps was taken to Kingston Hospital for treatment of back pain.

Demczar said both vehicles were removed from the scene early Wednesday morning.

He said no tickets had been because the investigation was continuing.

Southbound traffic was diverted off the highway at Exit 20 until the left lane was reopened around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. The right lane was reopened about four hours later.